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Road trip (Read 1604 times)
Sprintcyclist
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Road trip
Apr 13th, 2024 at 9:24am
 
We are off on a 5 week road trip to Victoria. Have a son and Grandson there.
Have 1+ weeks to get there, 2+ weeks in Vic, 1+ weeks to return.
Booked in 2 X AIR BnBs for the way down, will work it out after that.

Have done a lot of work on the car in the past 6 months. New tyres, windscreen wipers, auto fluid, engine oil, battery.
Emptied it out entirely yesterday (2 washing baskets full) , vacuumed and cleaned, windscreens cleaned.

1st stop Port Macquarie for 4 nights
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Re: Road trip
Reply #1 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 10:27am
 

Sounds like a nice trip.

What car do you have?

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Re: Road trip
Reply #2 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 10:55am
 
a 2008 camry with 323,000 on the odometer.
Have owned it for over a decade and serviced it very well.
Camrys are very good on the open road, they are a big car so ride well
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Re: Road trip
Reply #3 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 11:10am
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 10:55am:
a 2008 camry with 323,000 on the odometer.
Have owned it for over a decade and serviced it very well.
Camrys are very good on the open road, they are a big car so ride well


Yep - good car.

One of the most reliable vehicles on the road today.

Camry's between 2002 and 2010 are hard to beat.

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Re: Road trip
Reply #4 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 11:40am
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 9:24am:
We are off on a 5 week road trip to Victoria. Have a son and Grandson there.
Have 1+ weeks to get there, 2+ weeks in Vic, 1+ weeks to return.
Booked in 2 X AIR BnBs for the way down, will work it out after that.

Have done a lot of work on the car in the past 6 months. New tyres, windscreen wipers, auto fluid, engine oil, battery.
Emptied it out entirely yesterday (2 washing baskets full) , vacuumed and cleaned, windscreens cleaned.

1st stop Port Macquarie for 4 nights


Nice! If you happen to be in Lake Macquarie area by Sunday… there’s a big event there you might enjoy. I think it’s over 2.5 hours drive further south.

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Re: Road trip
Reply #5 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 12:35pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 9:24am:
1st stop Port Macquarie for 4 nights


I was there last weekend. The views from the lookout are stunning.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #6 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 12:36pm
 
Sophia wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 11:40am:
there’s a big event there you might enjoy. I think it’s over 2.5 hours drive further south.



what event?
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Re: Road trip
Reply #7 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 1:52pm
 
John Smith wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 12:36pm:
Sophia wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 11:40am:
there’s a big event there you might enjoy. I think it’s over 2.5 hours drive further south.



what event?

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Re: Road trip
Reply #8 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 4:04pm
 
Is that Police Academy 5?  Grin Grin Grin
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Re: Road trip
Reply #9 - Apr 13th, 2024 at 7:56pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 9:24am:
We are off on a 5 week road trip to Victoria. Have a son and Grandson there.
Have 1+ weeks to get there, 2+ weeks in Vic, 1+ weeks to return.
Booked in 2 X AIR BnBs for the way down, will work it out after that.

Have done a lot of work on the car in the past 6 months. New tyres, windscreen wipers, auto fluid, engine oil, battery.
Emptied it out entirely yesterday (2 washing baskets full) , vacuumed and cleaned, windscreens cleaned.

1st stop Port Macquarie for 4 nights

I always say that 4 weeks is a real holiday.
It takes a week to let go of where you've come from.
2 weeks to enjoy and absorb where you will be.
The last week to psyche oneself up upon the journey/voyage back.

Good onya Sprint.
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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.
 
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Re: Road trip
Reply #10 - Apr 22nd, 2024 at 8:11pm
 
Jasin wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 7:56pm:
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 13th, 2024 at 9:24am:
We are off on a 5 week road trip to Victoria. Have a son and Grandson there.
Have 1+ weeks to get there, 2+ weeks in Vic, 1+ weeks to return.
Booked in 2 X AIR BnBs for the way down, will work it out after that.

Have done a lot of work on the car in the past 6 months. New tyres, windscreen wipers, auto fluid, engine oil, battery.
Emptied it out entirely yesterday (2 washing baskets full) , vacuumed and cleaned, windscreens cleaned.

1st stop Port Macquarie for 4 nights

I always say that 4 weeks is a real holiday.
It takes a week to let go of where you've come from.
2 weeks to enjoy and absorb where you will be.
The last week to psyche oneself up upon the journey/voyage back.

Good onya Sprint.



Thanks
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Re: Road trip
Reply #11 - Apr 22nd, 2024 at 8:20pm
 
Port Macquarie was pretty nice. Swam most days, had a very nice AirBNB

Last night now at FoxGround in south NSW, by Kiama. AirBNB farmstay. Weather was not so good and a bit cooler.
Swam a few days. Kiamas pretty nice, a bit of a Sydney feel to it, unfortunately.

Headed tomorrow for Wangaratta.
Have got our driving down to a better rhythm, 1 and 1/2 hours then look for a good stop to stretch and swap drivers.
Keep to 112 km/h on the speedo and fuel usage is good. 118 km/h on the  speedo and uses a lot more fuel. Less tiring driving at 112 km/h too.
The Auto got a bit hot today going up a steep climb, a bit smelly.
Did not change down to 2nd gear to keep the revs up.
I know about that when towing, guess up a steep hill has the same effect.
Auto fluid is about 6 months old so can take a bit of heat.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #12 - Apr 23rd, 2024 at 7:41pm
 
Never been to Port Macquarie. But I hear many good things about it.
Kiama used to be great. It's own way of life and style. I've dived heaps around there in the past. You could honestly say when in Kiama, that you are away from it (Sydney) all.

But in the last 10 years - the major developments of Suburbs galore and all that comes with it, has seen it indeed become just an 'extension' of Sydney now. It has that 'city' feel to it, with countless 'burbs' around it. It is now another 'quantity over quality' way of life there.

You will find that the entire Coastline of NSW will be one long 'City' one day. Pristine amazing coastlines covered in cement, tar, block-homes, Supermarkets and noise pollution.
There should be a 1km buffer zone of NO development along the entire Coastline to protect and preserve it.
There is no 'need' to build upon it right to the edge.
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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.
 
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Re: Road trip
Reply #13 - May 5th, 2024 at 7:27pm
 
At Ballarat, Country Victoria is classic.
Avenue of Honour, Sovereign Hill, Edgars Mission.
Will see Eureka Stockade tomorrow and the Art Gallery here.

Great Ocean Road was great Smiley

Plotting our way back home, will take 1 1/2 weeks to get back to Brisbane.

Have dome some good researching with caravan owners about our future trips.
Current ideas are to not buy a caravan.
Perhaps a van we can convert a bit to sleep in if we have to and do house swops
Hyundai I-Max or similar.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #14 - May 5th, 2024 at 9:41pm
 
Great Ocean road is very scenic but winding.
I’m glad to read you are enjoying Victoria. So many different aspects about Vic.
Country Vic is beautiful. Have you gone as far as Gippsland? It’s different again. Phillip Island is very popular beach holiday spot… it’s where the GP bike race is held.
So much to see…
It’s like when we travel interstate, we like to travel a different route to see as much as possible. Even if we travel the same route as before, we like to explore different turns along the way we wizzed past other times.
Information places I find are good to stop at.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #15 - May 6th, 2024 at 12:03am
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 22nd, 2024 at 8:20pm:
Port Macquarie was pretty nice. Swam most days, had a very nice AirBNB

Last night now at FoxGround in south NSW, by Kiama. AirBNB farmstay. Weather was not so good and a bit cooler.
Swam a few days. Kiamas pretty nice, a bit of a Sydney feel to it, unfortunately.

Headed tomorrow for Wangaratta.
Have got our driving down to a better rhythm, 1 and 1/2 hours then look for a good stop to stretch and swap drivers.
Keep to 112 km/h on the speedo and fuel usage is good. 118 km/h on the  speedo and uses a lot more fuel. Less tiring driving at 112 km/h too.
The Auto got a bit hot today going up a steep climb, a bit smelly.
Did not change down to 2nd gear to keep the revs up.
I know about that when towing, guess up a steep hill has the same effect.
Auto fluid is about 6 months old so can take a bit of heat.


If you're going to tow regularly fit an aftermarket tranny cooler.

Check the colour of your tranny fluid from dipstick with white paper towel.

Not sure what is specified for your vehicle if it starts out red then turns brown get it changed it's burnt out will damage tranny.




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Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.
 
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Re: Road trip
Reply #16 - May 6th, 2024 at 5:26am
 
Baronvonrort wrote on May 6th, 2024 at 12:03am:
Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 22nd, 2024 at 8:20pm:
Port Macquarie was pretty nice. Swam most days, had a very nice AirBNB

Last night now at FoxGround in south NSW, by Kiama. AirBNB farmstay. Weather was not so good and a bit cooler.
Swam a few days. Kiamas pretty nice, a bit of a Sydney feel to it, unfortunately.

Headed tomorrow for Wangaratta.
Have got our driving down to a better rhythm, 1 and 1/2 hours then look for a good stop to stretch and swap drivers.
Keep to 112 km/h on the speedo and fuel usage is good. 118 km/h on the  speedo and uses a lot more fuel. Less tiring driving at 112 km/h too.
The Auto got a bit hot today going up a steep climb, a bit smelly.
Did not change down to 2nd gear to keep the revs up.
I know about that when towing, guess up a steep hill has the same effect.
Auto fluid is about 6 months old so can take a bit of heat.


If you're going to tow regularly fit an aftermarket tranny cooler.

Check the colour of your tranny fluid from dipstick with white paper towel.

Not sure what is specified for your vehicle if it starts out red then turns brown get it changed it's burnt out will damage tranny.






I agree with your ideas.
We were not towing, not sure what the smell was. Tranny fluid looks/smells ok. I changed it about 9 months ago.
Smell might be an oil weep I have that was on the hot engine
I did ask about fixing the weep, the good mechanic said it is not economic to fix it. The car as 320,000 kms on it.
I just top it up every 2 - 3 months now
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Re: Road trip
Reply #17 - May 12th, 2024 at 9:39am
 
The National Gallery of Art in Canberra was really poor.
One of the worst I have been in.

Canberra's a weird city. A strange vibe here, no vitality.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #18 - May 12th, 2024 at 11:21am
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 12th, 2024 at 9:39am:
The National Gallery of Art in Canberra was really poor.
One of the worst I have been in.

Canberra's a weird city. A strange vibe here, no vitality.


Yeah very stoic and business like. Supermarkets and nice shops hard to find as they are all hidden around back of business like office/buildings.
They’re a pace all on their own not like the rest of our places on Oz.
Melbourne art gallery should be better… but I haven’t been for donkeys years!
I must go in one day soon now coming to think of it. I just hate driving into the city and fight for parking spots!

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Re: Road trip
Reply #19 - May 12th, 2024 at 12:42pm
 
Sophia wrote on May 12th, 2024 at 11:21am:
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 12th, 2024 at 9:39am:
The National Gallery of Art in Canberra was really poor.
One of the worst I have been in.

Canberra's a weird city. A strange vibe here, no vitality.


Yeah very stoic and business like. Supermarkets and nice shops hard to find as they are all hidden around back of business like office/buildings.
They’re a pace all on their own not like the rest of our places on Oz.
Melbourne art gallery should be better… but I haven’t been for donkeys years!
I must go in one day soon now coming to think of it. I just hate driving into the city and fight for parking spots!



The Ballarat Art Gallery was better than the National one in Canberra.
I kid you not.

The War Memorial was very good. Top marks there.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #20 - May 12th, 2024 at 6:58pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 12th, 2024 at 9:39am:
The National Gallery of Art in Canberra was really poor.
One of the worst I have been in.

Canberra's a weird city. A strange vibe here, no vitality.

You just don't know the right people to be allowed in the right places. For starters, I bet you and your wife were not wearing Lanyards around your necks.
Cods used to live in Canberra. She never left her house without a few Lanyards on to open doors.
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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.
 
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Re: Road trip
Reply #21 - May 14th, 2024 at 9:20am
 
Had a terrific nudie swim at Hawks Nest this morning.
Water was hardly even fresh. Beautiful
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Re: Road trip
Reply #22 - May 18th, 2024 at 5:56pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 14th, 2024 at 9:20am:
Had a terrific nudie swim at Hawks Nest this morning.
Water was hardly even fresh. Beautiful


What?! No pics of buns?  Grin
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Re: Road trip
Reply #23 - May 18th, 2024 at 9:23pm
 
Sophia wrote on May 18th, 2024 at 5:56pm:
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 14th, 2024 at 9:20am:
Had a terrific nudie swim at Hawks Nest this morning.
Water was hardly even fresh. Beautiful


What?! No pics of buns?  Grin



Sorry about that, I should know better.
Anyhow, I almost got caught, so that was more fun.
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Re: Road trip
Reply #24 - May 21st, 2024 at 1:59pm
 
All back home, safe and sound.  An overview.

I love driving around Aussie so like this trip. From Brisbane to Vic and the Great Southern Ocean Road, around much of country Victoria, staying a beach AIRBNBs and STAYS often, Caravan parks a few times.

For 5 week, total cost about $7500 for the 2 of us.
Did a HUGE amount of preventative maintenance on the car before - highly recommended for a big car trip.
Drove a max of about 600 kms on a big day, swopped drivers every 1.5 hours or less - again recommended.

navigator's job is to 1/ Have a siesta
2/ Keep driver well hydrated/fed/alert/comfortable.
3/ Do all searched for stops/fuel/sightseeing on phone

Surprises are Ballarat - very well worth a 2+ day visit (3+ nights)
Canberra is probably not a big attraction. War memorial was great.
Kitchen knives can be sharpened well enough on a river rock ! (comes down to how good you are at sharpening)
Some caravan parks are REALLY good - 'Painters Island' caravan park at Wangaratta.
Got a bit 'bored' of seeing tourist sights. Historical sites and lighthouses etc


Buying a caravan/camper bus does not suit us that well for a few reasons.

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Re: Road trip
Reply #25 - May 22nd, 2024 at 10:30pm
 
Glad you got back home safe n sound.
At Ballarat…. did you go to Sovereign Hill?
What was climate there like at this time of year?
The place can be utterly freezing at most times!
Hope it was mild for you.
Did you go through Windy Warnambool?

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Re: Road trip
Reply #26 - May 24th, 2024 at 10:47am
 
Sophia wrote on May 22nd, 2024 at 10:30pm:
Glad you got back home safe n sound.
At Ballarat…. did you go to Sovereign Hill?
What was climate there like at this time of year?
The place can be utterly freezing at most times!
Hope it was mild for you.
Did you go through Windy Warnambool?




Yes, went to Sovereign Hill. That was an eyeopener once anyone looks past the tourist paraphernalia.
It was all very good, the story behind it is grim

There is now a 'Eureka Stockade' centre. I knew very little about this historical time.
What happened there went around the world and shaped Australias political system
As Mark Twain said about it '......  I think it may be called the finest thing in Australasian history. It was a revolution – small in size; but great politically; it was a strike for liberty, a struggle for principle, a stand against injustice and oppression....It is another instance of a victory won by a lost battle. It adds an honorable page to history; the people know it and are proud of it. ...... '

The climate was quite ok, calm winds, minimums at about 9 or so. We have heating and jackets nowadays.
I went for a swim in the ocean at Apollo Bay - Great Ocean Road
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Re: Road trip
Reply #27 - May 25th, 2024 at 10:23pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on May 24th, 2024 at 10:47am:
Sophia wrote on May 22nd, 2024 at 10:30pm:
Glad you got back home safe n sound.
At Ballarat…. did you go to Sovereign Hill?
What was climate there like at this time of year?
The place can be utterly freezing at most times!
Hope it was mild for you.
Did you go through Windy Warnambool?




Yes, went to Sovereign Hill. That was an eyeopener once anyone looks past the tourist paraphernalia.
It was all very good, the story behind it is grim

There is now a 'Eureka Stockade' centre. I knew very little about this historical time.
What happened there went around the world and shaped Australias political system
As Mark Twain said about it '......  I think it may be called the finest thing in Australasian history. It was a revolution – small in size; but great politically; it was a strike for liberty, a struggle for principle, a stand against injustice and oppression....It is another instance of a victory won by a lost battle. It adds an honorable page to history; the people know it and are proud of it. ...... '

The climate was quite ok, calm winds, minimums at about 9 or so. We have heating and jackets nowadays.
I went for a swim in the ocean at Apollo Bay - Great Ocean Road


Yes, interesting story that, the Eureka Stockade. Us Victorians know how to fight for rights.
About the flag….
The Eureka flag was sewn in silk by three women and first hoisted at Bakery Hill in 1854. Eureka Oath of Allegiance: 'We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties'.
Hence why it was flown at some of our largest rallies in Melbourne of recent times of protests against Han Dan and his dictatorship.

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